An IT internship that goes beyond technical skills

22 May An IT internship that goes beyond technical skills

Last year, @Chloe Lam, an undergraduate student at the @University of Toronto studying Computer Science, Math, and Statistics, took on an IT internship in Paris, France, through Absolute Internship. While most usually use experiences like this to sharpen their technical skills, the opportunity proved to be more than that for Chloe.

“Internships are about gaining career experience, but doing one abroad adds layers of personal growth that you just can’t get by staying in your comfort zone,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post.

“It turned out to be one of the most transformative experiences of my academic and professional journey so far.”

Putting her classroom learning to the test

In her internship with French medical equipment manufacturer @Omini, Chloe got to apply the skills she learned in university to the real world. She was given several data-related tasks, including processing, analysis, and automating pipelines. These resulted in an improvement of the company’s processing time by 40%, to be exact!

“[I] strengthened my technical skills while learning how software tools and organized data systems can enhance collaboration and project management.”

Lastly, she was given the responsibility of streamlining the entire company’s dashboard, eliminating redundancies, and turning it into an organized system that’s efficient, easily maintainable, and searchable. That’s a contribution that will surely last long after her internship ends.

If you think that’s already impressive, wait until you learn about what Omini does. Founded in 2019, the company is developing the first monitoring platform that will transform the lives of people with chronic conditions like heart failure. Imagine taking the lessons you learned in university and applying them to a project that is literally saving lives. Goosebumps.

Learning beyond technical skills in an IT internship

At first glance, one would think that a tech internship would focus on refining a student’s technical skills, such as programming, software testing, and data analysis. But the right internship program is capable of providing more than that. Interns can develop soft skills that will remain relevant and in demand in any professional environment, no matter the industry or specialty. And in an international internship, those skills are taken to a whole new level.

“Living and working abroad challenged me to adapt quickly, communicate effectively across cultures, and problem-solve independently.”

Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Chloe brought her own unique point of view to the Omini team. But working with a global company meant that she also got to collaborate with people from different backgrounds. This exposed her to new approaches in analyzing problems and coming up with innovative solutions, approaches that took into consideration various perspectives, cultures, and contexts.

Regardless of her future career choices, having that global perspective will always prove to be useful in a world that’s becoming increasingly interconnected.

Three other soft skills that Chloe highlighted in her learnings are adaptability, confidence, and independence, all of which she honed not just at work but also through her experiences outside the office.

“Living in a new country forces you to adjust quickly, whether it’s learning cultural nuances, navigating language barriers, or tackling unfamiliar projects,” she explained.

Aside from becoming more adaptable, the challenges that come with living alone and working in an unfamiliar city pushed her to become more self-reliant. This boosted her confidence and revealed her capabilities, like figuring out the Paris metro or presenting in work meetings.

Making the most of an internship abroad

It wasn’t all about work and the daily scenic commute for Chloe, though. Outside internship hours, she made time to see the beautiful country of France, learning its art and history, getting to know its people, and visiting iconic landmarks and sites. After all, one of the advantages of choosing a global internship is getting to immerse oneself in a new culture and improving one’s cultural awareness.

“During the week, I worked on IT and data-related projects. On weekends, I explored France, discovering how travel can refresh your perspective and fuel creativity.”

The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe are, without a doubt, must-sees for anyone visiting Paris. But the perk of staying in the capital of France for four weeks means you have time to scour the city’s every nook and cranny and really experience living like a local, and that’s just what Chloe did.

Weekends weren’t just reserved for going around Paris, either. Her itinerary included exploring both the north and south of the country, from the historical region of Normandy to the sunny city of Montpellier.

Montpellier is a sun-drenched city near the Mediterranean Sea, making it the perfect weekend trip during a summer internship in Paris

In a reflection she shared on LinkedIn, she wrote: “Each trip gave me a deeper appreciation for the country’s culture, history, and diversity, and reminded me of the importance of curiosity, balance, and embracing new experiences alongside professional growth.”

With her takeaways being self-discovery, cultural awareness, industry insights, and transferable skills useful both at work and in daily life, Chloe’s Paris internship is nothing short of a well-rounded, transformative experience. The great news is: this could be you! Yes, you.

Let’s make it happen! Send us a message, and we’ll guide you on how you can get started with your very own life-changing international internship.